THE mother of a murdered postman has used the first anniversary of her son's death to make an emotional appeal for information that will help to catch his killers.

It was 12 months ago on Wednesday that 30-year-old Paul Savage was beaten and left bleeding to death on a pavement as he was on his early morning round in Clayton Road, Mold.

On Tuesday his mother, June White, of Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, was in Mold to take part in a police Press conference where renewed appeals were made for information that would lead to those responsible being identified.

She read a letter from Paul's wife, Charlotte, 29, who said she little thought, this time last year, she'd still be appealing for help 12 months later.

The letter said: 'It has been the longest year of my life and the worst year I am ever likely to experience. I never realised what death was about until now, it is the most final of all things.

'Whatever you wished you had said or done doesn't matter any more. It's too late, there is no second chance.

'I am so honoured to have so many wonderful memories of Paul, nobody can take them away from me.

'Our daughter, Reagan, received an award at school last week. Her first words when I picked her up were 'Daddy would be so proud if he was alive'. These are the words of a five-year-old.'

Mrs White was staying with Paul and Charlotte at their home in Gwernaffield when news of the attack was given to them. She accompanied her son to hospital, where he died in her arms.

She spoke of the 'enormous support' she has had from friends and family and said: 'The past year has been hard, very hard. That day was my brother's birthday - one he will never forget.

'I would like to ask those who did this to my son, my granddaughter's daddy, what were his last words? We will never know.'

Mrs White has made her own door-to-door inquiries in the area where her son died, and is confident that one day his killers will be caught.

Mold town and Flintshire county councillor Ray Dodd, who discovered Mr Savage in the driveway of his house in Clayton Road, said the experience will never fade from his memory.

He appealed to anyone with any information to come forward. He also offered to make himself available, in a private room at a neutral location, to anyone who felt they would like to pass on information in confidence.

Recalling that someone suggested the value of his property could be affected because everyone would associate it with the murder, he said: 'It may or may not have an effect, but what concerns me more is the fact that our whole town, our whole community, has been more seriously devalued by giving the impression that the people of Mold do not care or are too scared or too complacent to help bring these murderers to justice.'

'We are here until this is solved'

PEOPLE in Mold can help bring Paul Savage's murderers to justice but, for whatever reason, those who could help have not come forward.

That was the message from North Wales Police on the first anniversary of the postman's death.

'Twelve months on we are still searching,' said Supt Michel Williams.

'What this means is that 12 months ago a husband and father left his home to go to his place of work. He kissed his family goodbye, like many thousands of people have done this morning. The difference is, he never went home to his family again.

'Since that terrible morning, North Wales Police have continued to investigate the crime. Their inquiries have been thorough and exhaustive. People in Mold can help bring these people to justice, but for some reason those who can help have not come forward.

'They need to know that we will not give up until we have the answers we are looking for.'

The superintendent was backed by the officer in charge of the case, Det Chief Insp Dave Loftus, who remains convinced the answer to the murder lies in Mold.

To date, said Det Chief Insp Loftus, police have recorded 1,500 statements, conducted more than 4,100 inquiries and arrested more than 20 people for unrelated criminal offences, ranging from burglary to dealing in Class A drugs.

'I do not intend to fuel speculation as to the motive for this murder, except to say it was unprovoked and carried out in the most cowardly way possible,' he said.

'What we do believe is that the offenders have a drugs background and that is why key witnesses may be reluctant to come forward.

'We recognise that coming forward may be seen as breaking ranks. Key witnesses themselves may have previous convictions or a drug habit. The question they need to ask themselves is what if it had been their husband, father, son, who was beaten to death in Mold.

'We are used to dealing with witnesses who have problems and we can deal with any concerns they may have. If anybody wishes to speak informally, or even anonymously, with a member of the investigation team, that can be arranged. Even if people want to speak through an independent third party in the first instance, we can facilitate that.'

He added: 'The vast majority of the population in Mold are decent, law-abiding people and we have had a good response from most, but we are left with a small caucus of people who are criminals and drug dealers and we are not getting a response from them.

'I wish to stress that our inquiries are not focused on one particular estate in Mold, they now take us a little bit wider afield. We are asking the people out there, in Mold and the surrounding area, who know who did this to come forward.

'We will leave no stone unturned in this inquiry. If you are a criminal in Mold, this investigation will haunt you. We are here until this murder is solved.'